Foster Program

First HHBR wants to thank you for considering fostering a Basset Hound in need of that second chance. Fostering is a very critical, sometimes challenging, always rewarding, vital part of rescue.

Fostering Information

HHBR always has a need for good foster homes. Many bassets come to us who have been starved, neglected, beaten or abused. Some bassets were given away because they were “too big,” “too old,” “shed too much,” or have been replaced by newer pets or even furniture. Some have had beloved owners die. Even physically healthy and well looked after dogs are often emotionally distraught and confused by the loss of their former homes.

HHBR always finds forever homes for our Basset’s, but it takes time! We want to find the perfect family, so that our dogs will not suffer yet more traumas & change in the future. This is where foster parenting comes in.

What exactly is a foster home?

A foster home is a family who takes into their home one of HHBR’s homeless basset hounds. They care for and evaluate the dog’s temperament until a new forever home is found. Foster homes are essential to a successful adoption. They have first-hand experience with the dog and can aide our Adoption Coordinator in placing the dog in the right home. If you would love to have a basset hound, but are not in a position to take on full responsibility for a hound right now, this is a great way to get to know what might be involved, to get to know the breed, and maybe to meet the one hound that will steal your heart! Our foster homes get first call on their foster dogs when it comes to choosing their forever home. Although you will probably fall in love with nearly every hound you foster, you can be sure that they are going on to the best home we can find… and often you can stay in touch and get photos/updates etc. so they never really leave your heart!

As a foster parent, you will be asked to make a commitment to providing a temporary home for several days, weeks or months, during which time HHBR, along with you, will be looking for the perfect, permanent adoptive family for the dog. HHBR will pay all medical charges for the basset while in your care. You will be asked to provide food, love, and emotional support for the basset during this crucial transitional time. In addition, you’ll give us feedback about the dog so that we can ensure a good match. You may also need to administer medications, or give special loving attention.

Nothing is more rewarding than to take in a sad, lonely, despondent dog and see him or her revive, and turn into a loving and happy pet. When he leaves for his new permanent home, you will have the joy of knowing the part you played in making it all possible. And perhaps – to take in your next foster dog!

First, you need to submit a foster application- just click on the link! The process is much the same as being approved to adopt a hound. Once your application is processed, a HHBR Volunteer will arrange for a home visit, just as we do for prospective adopters. The purpose of the home visit is to get to know you face to face and answer any questions you have about fostering. We hope to launch a long lasting relationship with you, so we feel it is a good way to get to know you, and vice versa!

We look for a loving, dog friendly place where a Basset Hound will be nurtured and cared for. Chances are if you already own a Basset Hound, your home will do just fine. If you are just entering the world of basset hounds, we will help you make sure that your home is basset friendly and safe. We do not insist on fenced yards or that someone is home all day, although these assets would be great. Dogs will be placed in all sorts of home situations, and it only makes sense that their foster home is just a ‘normal’ environment!

Since HHBR is still a very small rescue our intaking is still relatively calm. HHBR follows a very strict belief of having the hound vetted completely BEFORE placing the hound into a foster or adoptive home. This is our way of making sure the hound is healthy & free of all communicable diseases. Our average notice is around 3-7 days depending on the health of the hound needing a foster space.

HHBR prides itself on being a rescue that does not rely on boarding facilities, not that we think they are bad, we simply can not afford to board hounds while waiting for a possible foster home to open. We are a strictly foster home based rescue. If HHBR can not secure a foster home for the hound needing rescue we simply can not help the hound & will try our darndest to network the hounds need o rescue to other rescues/rescuers in the area. This is why foster homes are critical.

It varies. Young, adoptable hounds get placed quite quickly, so it could be just days or weeks. Some hounds are sick and need to recuperate, undergo vet visits, treatment etc. and may not be made available until they are healthy. That could take longer. Older hounds are more difficult to find homes for, so they may be with you several months. Owner surrender dogs don’t always require a behavior assessment, but some shelter dogs (where the background may not be known) need a longer assessment period before we can post them as available for adoption. If you are fostering a dog for us, and you have a crisis, we will do what we can to find a new foster home as soon as possible, so you do not have to foster any longer than you want to. We prefer not to move the dogs too often, as this just perpetuates their confusion, but we understand that you have a life as well! Also, if the dog is not a good fit for your household, we will also remove the dog for you and find you (hopefully) another.

Food and love! HHBR will pay for medical costs, and any other excessive out of pocket expenses. Obviously, if you are able to provide financially for these costs, anything you pay may be treated as a donation and be used to write off expenses against your taxes. The minimum is a loving environment. A warm bed, good food, and to be treated as one of your family. The foster stage is extremely important in rehabilitating an unwanted, abandoned or neglected hound. Socializing the dog, observing how it responds to other animals, children, being left alone, watching for signs of allergy or other health problems so we can deal with these before placement are vital to choosing the correct forever home. Attendance at adoption fairs and HHBR events is always welcomed. As we work on a foster basis, with our foster homes distributed all across the states of IA, MO & KS, we don’t have any one place where potential adopters can come and meet the hounds, so if you can attend an event that would be wonderful. It also increases the chances of finding your hound its own forever home!

As above, financially, we can pay for necessary medical costs. Unless it is a medical emergency, we would want you to liaise with our foster coordinator over planned vet visits. We require all our hounds to be spayed or neutered, fully up to date on vaccinations, usually heartworm tested and on heartworm and flea preventative, so occasionally there will be routine medical visits to take the dog to. It is always HHBR’s policy to place a completely vetted hound into a home, either foster for forever. On a more practical level, our foster coordinator will be there for help and advice, plus the other Board members, and our other volunteers.

Probably much more than we can summarize here! The whole HHBR organization is here to support you and answer any other questions you may have. Contact admin@houndshavenbassetrescue.com if you have any questions.